Sitting all day in conference presentations and talks was rewarded with a delicious four-course dinner. Wine was flowing, talks were escalating only indicating that schmoozing wasn’t finished.

Sid Katz, a UBC science educator and journalist was the master of ceremonies for the night. He filled in the dinner crowd with his busy schedule and psyched everyone up for the first annual science journalism awards.

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Sparks were flying as these three put their heads together to discuss the ultimate question: Is the internet dumbing down science?

People like the web. It’s a new medium that is instantaneous, offers interactivity and ability to access content on different levels of detail and the user can check facts.

The new tools allow the “omygawd” factor, according to Richard Black from BBCNews.com, to become a way to share news.

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Both journalists and scientists complain about the disconnect that exists between the two fields. “Where’s the story?” the journalist asks. “You’re misrepresenting the data,” the scientist will say. The one group just can’t seem to communicate in a way that satisfies the other.

But in the second session of the conference, Jaymie Matthews of UBC’s Department of Astronomy and Physics talked about some research at what was supposed to be a “mock” press conference. After he finished, Richard Black of BBC News said his presentation was “as good as it gets” as far as science press conferences go.

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The way audiences are getting information is changing. The way the internet is playing a role in getting this information is influencing journalists to create unique and interesting ways to portray information and facts.

Professor Alfred Hermida in his talk at the Wedgewood Hotel in Vancouver last night addressed how to make science relevant in a digital age.

We know the web allows new tools, innovative ways to tell a story and now science is tapping into this relatively new medium to tell difficult stories that would otherwise be weighed down with facts and figures.

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The first session this morning dealt with the hype and spin of science journalism, so it was no surprise that definitions of “journalist” and “advocate” were brought up.

Traditionally, these terms have been pitted against each other in the field of journalism.

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